New Rega R1 - Recommend an Amp?

Lenny:

I owned the Rega Ara (predecessor to the R1) and used them with two different amps ... a Prima Luna Prologue 2 (den system, tubes, no phono) and an Outlaw RR2150 receiver (bedroom system, solid state, phono). The Aras were excellent in both setups.

The great thing about the Regas is that they will compliment most amps that you pair with them. They can be placed close to rear walls. Have decent bass. They do well with QED Silver Anniversary speaker cables.

As for CD players ... the Rega Apollo, Music Hall CD25.2, or Cambridge Audio 540 or 640 will work out nicely.

Regards, Rich

Agree with Lenny on the CD players.

Because the R1's are very efficient and you are using them in a smaller room (I assume), you can get away with less power.

Here are some amp ideas:

-Marantz PM5003 - built in phono
-Onkyo A955 - built in phono - gets great reviews on here
-Rega Brio - why not make it a clean sweep?

-used Naim Nait 3 or 5 plus external phono amp

Or - get a Music Hall Trio with CD, Tuner, pre and amp all in one box - all would need to get is a phono pre amp - probably a quiet solid state unit like the ones made by Creek, Rega, Music Hall or Cambridge (the 640P). This system really sounds better than it has any right to.

Another all in one option is the Solo from Arcam which is great sounding and looking, but also pricy and requires an outboard phono preamp.

Cambridge Audio 540 and their Phono Stage

Nait 3 and stageline.

Thanks guys. I would like to keep this under $500 and as small as possible, so no external phono preamp.